Sampling chemical plant fluids and novel valves

ABSTRACT

A SYSTEM FOR SAMPLING CHEMICAL PLANT FLUIDS IN WHICH THE SAMPLE IS WITHDRAWN THROUGH A FILTER AND THE FILTERED FLUID PASSED THROUGH A SAMPLE VESSEL TO A RESERVOIR. WHEN THE FLUID IN THE SAMPLE VESSEL IS CLEAR THE FLOW IS HALTED AND THE CLEAR FLUID TRANSFERRED TO A HOLDING VESSEL WHILE THE FILTER IS BACKWASHED. SAMPLE FLUID IS CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWN FROM THE HOLDING VESSEL FOR ANALYSIS, E.G., TO DETERMINE THE SULPHATE CONTENT. VALVING IS BY THE ALTERNATE CONSTRICTION OF TWO SETS OF ELASTIC TUBES BY A RECIPROCATING PISTON.   D R A W I N G

June 1, 1971 w. c. HAMSHERE E AL 3,582,284

SAMPLING CHEMICAL PLANT FLUIDS AND NQVEL VALVES Filed 001:. 11, 1967 a Sheets-Sheet 1 u mu [III/[III 6 3 H83 FIGL June 1,1971 w. c. HAMSHERE ET 3,582,284

SAMPLING CHEMICAL PLANT FLUIDS AND NOVEL VALVES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0ct 11, 1967 Patented June 1, 197 1 3,582,284 SAMPLING CHEMICAL PLANT FLUIDS AND NOVEL VALVES Wilfred C. Hamshere, Holmbrook, and Thomas W. L. Atkinson, Whitehaven, England, assignors to Marchon Products Limited, London, England Filed Oct. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 674,495 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Oct. 14, 1966, 46,171/ 66 Int. Cl. B01d 23/24; F161 55/14; G01n 21/26 US. Cl. 23253 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A system for sampling chemical plant fluids in which the sample is withdrawn through a filter and the filtered fluid passed through a sample vessel to a reservoir. When the fluid in the sample vessel is clear the flow is halted and the clear fluid transferred to a holding vessel while the filter is backwashed. Sample fluid is continuously withdrawn from the holding vessel for analysis, e.g., to determine the sulphate content. Valving is by the alternate constriction of two sets of elastic tubes by a reciprocating piston.

The present invention provides improvements in or relating to the control of chemical processes. The invention is especially applicable to industrial processes in which several different streams of corrosive fluids must be controlled simultaneously.

An example of such a process is the analysis of plant liquids such as the mixture of phosphoric acid and gypsum obtained during the manufacture of Wet process phosphoric acid, in order to determine sulphate ion concentration. Various methods have been proposed for such analyses, e.g. in US. Pat. 2,979,385, which suggests taking a continuously cycled stream of sample from a wet proc ess phosphoric acid reactor, passing it through a filter and intermittently diverting a part of the sample stream through a needle valve into a mixing tank where it is admixed with barium chloride solution. The intensity of a beam of light shone through the mixture is compared with that of a beam of light shone through the original barium chloride solution, to provide a measure of the turbidity due to precipitated barium sulphate.

1 This process has been found impracticable for various reasons. A major defect is the tendency of the barium sulphate to accumulate, blocking lines and obscuring the windows of the turbidimetric cell.

A further problem, one often encountered in processes which involve the continuous withdrawal of a sample through a filter, is the tendency of fine solid to penetrate the filter in the early stages of filtration, and of accumulated filter cake to clog the filter and inhibit the flow of liquid during the later stages.

A particular problem which has also been encountered in practice and which often occurs when it is necessary to sample, automatically, liquids from one or more stages in in a chemical plant, which liquids may be of a corrosive nature or may contain abrasive solids in suspension, is the unsatisfactorily short life of the valves commonly available for such purposes. Needle valves of the type specified in Us. Pat. 2,979,385 have been found totally unsuitable, since they are too readily corroded.

We have now discovered a system for sampling and analysing plant fluids and for controlling their flow which is particularly applicable to the automatic regulation of sulphate ion concentration in wet process phosphoric acid and can readily be adapted to a variety of other problems of sampling and fluid control in chemical engineering.

We have discovered that chemical plant liquids contaming suspended solids may be automatically sampled and obtained substantially free from solids, in a form suitable for continuous monitoring, by withdrawing liquid through a filter, and passing the filtered liquid through a sample vessel until the liquid in the sample vesselis sufficiently clear. The flow may then be halted and the liquid in the sample vessel transferred to a holding vessel, while the filter is backwashed. The sequence is then repeated. The sample for analysis may be withdrawn continuously from the holding vessel.

We have also discovered that continuous analysis for sulphate by turbidimetric techniques may be effectively carried out by passing a metred flow of sample (which may be diluted, if necessary to aid pumpability by mixing with a metred flow of water) to a mixing chamber adapted to inhibit deposition of barium sulphate, wherein the sample is admixed with a metred flow of an aqueous solution containing barium ions. The mixed solutions are continually passed through a turbidimetric cell wherein they are illuminated from a suitable source, and the ratio of the light transmitted through the liquids to the light scattered therefrom is measured by means, for example, photoelectric cells.

We have discovered further that the automatic sampling of chemical plant materials may be conveniently carried out employing a modified pinch valve, that is a valve of the type in which an elastic tube is constricted.

Our invention accordingly provides a method of sampling fluids from chemical plants which comprises:

(A) Repeatedly performing a sequence of operations consisting of withdrawing fluid from the plant through a filter, passing the filtered fluid through a sample vessel until the fluid in the sample vessel is clear, halting the flow of fluid, transferring the clear fluid from the sample vessel to a holding vessel and backwashing the filter; and

(B) Continuously or intermittently withdrawing fluid from the holding vessel for analysis.

Preferably the fluid which passes through the sample vessel before the flow is halted is ultimately returned to the plant. For example, the fluid may be passed to a reservoir, which may be connected to a vacuum line to induce the withdrawal of sample fluid through the filter. When the flow is halted, the fluid in the reservoir may be returned to the plant.

Conveniently the transfer of fluid from the sample vessel to the holding vessel and from the reservoir to the plant is effected by pressure of compressed air.

Preferably the holding vessel is small compared with the sample vessel, and is conveniently adapted to ensure that each batch of sample transferred from the sample vessel flushes any residue of the preceding batch from the holding vessel. For example a U pipe may have a short arm connected to the bottom of the holding vessel and a longer arm whose upper extremity defines the maximum level of liquid in the holding vessel. The excess liquid may be allowed to overflow the upper extremity of the longer arm and pass into a drain.

Preferably the sizes of the holding and sample vessels and the rate of withdrawal of fluid from the holding vessel are such as to ensure that there is always fluid in the holding vessel, and desirably the fluid is continuously withdrawn from the holding vessel at a constant rate.

Where the sample is a saturated or near saturated solution, it may be desirable to maintain the holding vessel and/or the sample vesel at a temperature suflicient to inhibit deposition of solids. Preferably all the 'valves' required in the sampling system are pinch valves in whi ch an elastic tube is compressed to prevent theflow of fluid.

- Conveniently all the valves which are simultaneously provides a method for continuously determining sulphate ion concentration in aqueous chemical plant solutions Which comprises passing a metred flow of the solution substantially free of suspended solid, and a. metred flow of an aqueous solution containing barium ions, to a mixing vessel adapted to inhibit adherence of barium sulphate thereto, passing the mixed solutlon through a turbidimetric cell, illuminating the liquid in the cell and determining the ratio of the light transmitted through the solution to the light scattered therefrom.

Preferably the sample liquid is diluted with a metred flow of water before admixture with the aqueous barium solution. In particular, where viscous, corrosive or saturated solutions are involved e.g. wet process phosphoric acid saturated with gypsum, it is frequently desirable to dilute the sample with a metred flow of water before passing the sample through a metering pump. In this way corrosion, or the blocking of pumps and lines with precipitated solids may be reduced.

Preferably the sample liquid is withdrawn from the holding vessel of the sampling system of our invention as hereinbefore described.

The mixing vessel is adapted to prevent deposition of barium sulphate. This may be most conveniently achieved by constructing the vessel of a material to which barium sulphate does not readily adhere e.g. polytetrafiuoroethylene. Aternatively the vessel may be provided with suitable agitation, e.g. ultrasonic vibration, to inhibit deposition of sulphate. Preferably the vessel is large enough in relation to the flow rate to provide a residence time of from to 100 seconds to ensure complete precipitation of sulphate.

, The turbidimetric cell preferably comprises four windows positioned to enable two beams of light to be passed through the cell, intersecting therein making an angle which is preferably substantially 90. In a preferred form of cell the two beams of light shine alternately and a single photoelectric cell alternately measures the intensity of the light transmitted by one beam and that of the light scattered by the other beam. Conveniently the two beams are supplied by a single source using a suitable optical system. Preferably a characteristic pattern of interuption is superimposed on each beam egg. by means of a rotating chopper. In this way the beams may be electronically distinguished. The ratio between intensities of scattered and transmitted light provides a convenient measure of the amount of suspended barium sulphate in the solution which is independent of any effect due to barium sulphate deposited on the windows. The output from the turbidimeter may be used to regulate such operating parameters as sulphuric acid feed rate, for example using the control techniques of the prior art.

In contrast to prior methods for turbidimetric determination of sulphate we have found that no gel forming or stabilizing additives or wetting agents are required for our method.

Our invention provides a valve consisting of a plurality of sets of constrictable tubes, each set being provided with constricting means capable of constricting all the tubes in the set simultaneously, together vsn'th an automatic control mechanism whereby the constricting means are sequentially activated.

According to a preferred embodiment our invention provides a valve which comprises a first set of at least two elastic tubes, at second set of at least one elastic tube and means for constricting, alternately, all the tubes of the first set, and all the tubes of the second set, the constriction of each being sufiicient to inhibit or prevent any flow of fluid therein. Preferably the constricting means comprises a reciprocating piston provided with a double ended rod each end of which drives a pinch bar. The piston may, for example, be driven by means of a double acting hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. For example, the tubes of each set may be arranged parallel to one another in the same plane as, and perpendicular to, the piston rod, one set at either end. Preferably each tube is separated from the next by a floating pinch bar which is free to slide along the axis of the piston rod. In this way all the tubes of either se may be compressed against a suitable end stop as the piston nears the end of a stroke. where fluids of high pressure are involved it may be convernent to employ a system of levers connecting the piston rod to the pinch bar or bars.

Our invention also provides anapparatus for sampling plant fluids which comprises a filter, a first line adapted to withdraw sample fluid through the filter and then through a first valve to a sample vessel, a second line adapted to pass fluid from the sample vessel through a. second valve to a reservoir, a third line adapted to pass fluid from the sample vessel through a third valve to a holding vessel, a fourth line provided with a fourth valve adapted to discharge fluid from the reservoir, a vacuum line provided with a fifth valve and connecting with the reservoir, a water line adapted to supply water through a sixth valve to the first line at a point between the filter and the first valve, and two compressed air lines provided respectively with seventh and eighth valves and connecting respectively with the reservoir and with a part of the apparatus between the first and second valves, the first, second and fifth valves constituting a first set, and the third, fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth valves constituting a second set, and means adapted to close simultaneously all the valves of the first set while opening all the valves of the second set, and vice versa.

Preferably the valves consist of constrictable tubes and each set is opened and closed by the action of a common constricting member, for example by a system of pinch bars as hereinbefore described. Preferably the filter is in the form of a filter probe adapted to be positioned within a chemical reactor. When the valves of the first set are open, fluid is drawn by the vacuum line through the filter probe, the first line, the sample vessel and the third line to the reservoir. When the valves of the second set are open, water from the second line backwashes the filter and helps to clear any solid deposited in the first line, liquid from the sample vessel is transferred through the fourth line to the holding vessel by air pressure, and liquid in the reservoir is discharged through the fifth line.

A particular form of valve according to the invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, of which FIG. 1 is a plan view of the valve, FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation showing the means for constricting one set of tubes, FIG. 3 is a cross-section along the line AA and FIG. 4 is a plan view of the driven pinch bar.

The valve comprises a double acting pneumatic cylinder 1 whose double ended piston rod 2 is attached at either end to a T-shaped, driven pinch bar 3 by means of a pin 4. Parallel elastic tubes 5 are supported in the same plane as, and perpendicular to, the rod 2, at either end thereof. The tubes are supported by the brackets 6. The tubes are separated from one another by floating pinch bars 7. The driven pinch bar 3 and the floating pinch bars 7 are free to slide in the grooves of guide bars 8. At either end of the valve is an adjustable end stop 9.

The flow of fluid to the double acting cylinder 1 may be automatically controlled by a solenoid operated four way pilot valve not shown. When compressed air is admitted to one end of the cylinder the piston moves to the end of its stroke and the driven pinch bar 3 compresses the first of the tubes 5 against the first of the floating pinch bars 7. This pressure is transmitted along the series of tubes and floating pinch bars thereby compressing the last of the tubes 5 against the adjustable end stop 9. On admitting compressed air to the other end of the cylinder the piston moves back and the pressure of fluid in the tubes together with their elasticity causes the floating pinch bars to resume their original position. The number of tubes at either end may be varied and the position of the end stop 9 adjusted accordingly.

It is preferred to use valves according to the invention for the automatic sampling of materials in a chemical plant. For example, fluid material withdrawn from the plant, reagent fluids required for analysis and wash water may each be passed through separate constrictable tubes. The flow of each fluid is controlled by the constriction of the relevant tube, constriction being regulated automatically to ensure the correct sequence for example by suitable pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical regulators.

A valve of the type specifically described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings has been tried successfully for the automatic sampling of corrosive fluids, and found to have a life substantially greater than any of the commercially available valves tried.

A particular embodiment of our invention, adapted for continuous analysis of the sulphate ion concentration in a wet process phosphoric acid reactor, and embodying a valve as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings will now be described with reference to FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings, which is a flow sheet illustrating the sampling and analytical systems.

The apparatus comprises a filter probe 11 and a line 12 (which is preferably constructed of polytetrafluoroethylone) provided with a valve 13 and adapted to convey fluid from the filter probe to a sample vessel 14. A line 15 provided with a valve 16 is adapted to convey fluid from the sample vessel to a reservoir 17. A line 18 provided with a valve 19 is adapted to discharge fluid from the reservoir. The reservoir is connected with a vacuum line 20 provided with a valve 21.

A line 23 provided with a valve 24 is adapted to transfer fluid from the sample vessel to a holding vessel 25 the bottom of which is drained by the shorter arm of a -U tube 26, whose longer arm is provided with an overflow which determines the maximum level of liquid in the holding vessel.

A water supply line 27 provided with a valve 28, connects with the line 12 between the valve 13 and the filter probe. Compressed air is supplied to the line 15 through a valve 22 at a point between the sample vessel and the valve 16. A compressed air line 29 provided with a valve 30 connects with the reservoir.

The valves 13, 16, and 21 constitute a first set of constrictable tubes held in one arm of a valve mechanism as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings. Valves 19, 22, 24, 28 and 30 constitute a second set of constrictable tubes held in the other arm of the valve mechanism.

A line 31 is adapted to withdraw liquid from near the bottom of the holding vessel, and leads via a mixer 34 and a metering pump 35 to a mixing chamber 38 which is preferably constructed of polytetrafluoroethylene. Water supply lines 32 and 36 provided respectively with metering pumps 33 and 37 join the line 31 respectively at a point between the holding vessel and the mixer 34 and a point between the metering pumps 35 and the mixing chamber 38. A line 39 provided with a metering pump 40 is adapted to supply barium chloride solution to the mixing chamber.

A line 41 leads from the mixing chamber to the cell of a Southern Analytical Ltd. A 1690 suspended solids recorder 42, whence a line 43 leads to waste.

The following parametres were found applicable to the control of sulphate ion in a wet process phosphoric acid reactor.

Vessels Mls. Capacity of sample vessel 14 30 Capacity of reservoir 17 2,000 Capacity of holding vessel 25 7 6 Valves An automatic regulator maintained the first set open for seconds and the second set open for 15 seconds.

Pressures Valve 22 Air at 1 p.s.i. Valve 30 Air at 5 p.s.i. Valve 28 Water at 20 p.s.i.

Pumps Mls./hr. Flow rate of pump 33 Flow rate of pump 35 300 Flow rate of pump 37 24,000 Flow rate of pump 40 500 An inch diameter cell having a capacity of 20 mls. was employed. The filter probe was of stainless steel having a terylene filter cloth held in position by a 2-inch skirt. A small glass coil was employed as the mixer 34. Provision was made to maintain the holding vessel at the same temperature as the plant reaction vessel.

The apparatus was assembled with the filter probe 11 within a wet process phosphoric acid reactor and the line 19 discharging back into the reactor.

With the first set of valves open, liquid was drawn through the filter probe to the reservoir 17 until sufficient filter cake had accumulated to clarify the filtrate. With the second set of valves open the clear liquid in the sample vessel 14 was transferred to the holding vessel 25 where the excess flushed out the residue of the previous discharge, the liquid in the reservoir 17 was returned to the reactor, and the filter was backwashed.

A change of sulphate ion concentration in the reactor was registered within 5 minutes and the system was found capable of providing close and accurate control over the reaction.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for sampling chemical plant fluids which consists essentially of a filter, a sample vessel, a first valved line from the filter to the sample vessel, a holding vessel, a second valved line from the sample vessel to the holding vessel, a valved outlet from the sample vessel, a valved compressed air line adapted to supply compressed air to the sample vessel, a valved water supply line adapted to supply backwashing water to the filter, the valves of the first line and of the sample vessel outlet constituting a first set, and the other valves constituting a second set, and a regulator adapted to close the two sets of valves alternately.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 which additionally comprises a reservoir connected to said valved outlet from said sample vessel, a valved outlet from the reservoir, a valved compressed air line connected to the reservoir and a valved vacuum line connected to the reservoir the vacuum valve being included in the first set and the other valves in the second set.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each valve consists of a constrictable tube and a constricting mechanism, each set being provided with a common constricting mechanism.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the constricting mechanism is a reciprocating member adapted to constrict the two sets alternately.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the capacity of the holding vessel is smaller than that of the sample vessel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a duct drains the bottom of the holding vessel and an overflow outlet from the duct is located at a height between those of the top and bottom of the holding vessel.

7. Apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids which consists of two sets of elastic tubes and a constricting mechanism adapted to constrict the two sets of tubes alternately comprising a double acting fluid actuated cylinder, a reciprocating piston and double ended rod mounted within the cylinder, pinch bars mounted at either end of the rod, sets of elastic tubes disposed in a plane containing the rod and all perpendicular to the rods axis, one set at either end of the rod, guide bars parallel to the axis Of the rod on either side of each set of tubes, each guide bar being provided with an inwardly disposed longitudinal groove, floating pinch bars separating adjacent tubes in the same set and slideably mounted in the grooves, and adjustable end stops beyond each set of tubes, fixable to the guide bars at various distances from the cylinder.

8. A valve mechanism comprising in combination a driven constrictor;

a set of tubes comprising a plurality of substantially parallel and co-planar constrictable tubes positioned adjacent one end of said driven constrictor;

a plurality of floating constrictors, each one of said floating constrictors being positioned between adjacent constrictable tubes;

said driven constrictor being movable in a direction co-planar with and substantially perpendicular to the direction of said parallel constrictable tubes;

said set of constrictable tubes having an end stop at the end opposite that which is adjacent said driven constrictor, each of said plurality of constrictable tubes being mounted so as to be freely movable in the direction of movement of said driven constrictor and being separated from each other by a floating constrictor;

said driven constrictor being movable in the direction of said tubes so that when fully moved in said direction, the end tube is positioned in contact with said end stop and each of said tubes is constricted.

9. The valve mechanism of claim 8 wherein said driven constrictor is a reciprocally driven constrictor.

10. The valve mechanism of claim 8 wherein said con- Strictor is a reciprocally driven and double acting with two oppositely extending constrictors; and wherein a set of tubes as defined in claim 8 is mounted adjacent each of said oppositely extended driven constrictors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 210,334 11/1878 Kinsman 251--7X 2,873,644 2/1959 Kremen et al 356206X 2,979,385 4/1961 Karasek et a1. 23253 3,137,543 6/1964 Barton et a1. 23230 3,253,431 5/1966 Minhinnett 210411X FOREIGN PATENTS 677,115 8/1952 Great Britain 2517 MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner R. M. REESE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

